YJA Convention 2000 07 LA Fourth

Author(s): Young Jains of America (YJA)
Publisher: Young Jains of America YJA USA

Page 55

ribbons of voicemuezzins high in the minarets calling the city to prayer. My grandmother reads to me from
5. "We find difference among the sons and daughters of
the same parents. Not only that, but also we find difference between twin brothers born at the same moment. Though parents pay considerable attention to their bringing up and training, they differ in learning, education, intelligence wisdom, experience and conduct. This shows that the difference in blood, semen and environment is not a sufficient ground to account for this difference. Influences of the impressions of the past births too have their place in causing the difference and inequality."[9]
her
tattered journal, and I am the daughter of what lingers in sunset haze. [6]
Discussion questions:
6. "From all these instances we know that the primary
cause of the varied diversity or inequality does not lie merely in the present birth, nor is the diversity or inequality the result merely of training or culture imparted by the parents, nor is it the result merely of environment, situations or circumstances. Sot it is proper to maintain that the soul existed even prior to the inception of embryo. This prior existence itself is the previous birth. The present birth and the special capacities associated with it can very well be accounted for on the basis of impressions that are left on the soul by the desires entertained and the activities performed in the previous birth."[9]
1. is our identity pre-determined or is it solely one's life which
determines identity? (See Quotes 5 and 6.) 2. What effect does the number/concentration of Jains and the
amount of the faith introduced to us have on shaping our
lives? (See Background Information 1 through 6.) 3. How do the differences/similarities between the situations of
our parents and that of our own have an effect? (See
Background Information 1 through 6.) 4. How do our parents/peers directly influence our identities?
(i.e. the relationships we have, friends we make, etc.) (See
Quotes 7.) 5. Would changing our surnames to "Jain" help/hinder our
formation of identity? (See Quotes 3 and 4.) 6. What influences do other cultures/societies have? (i.e.
African American, Latino, Chinese, Korean, etc.) (See
Quotes 1 and 2.) 7. How much does the tendency to stay with people of similar
interests/backgrounds play a part?
"'Venerating and serving (gurus] is guru-upasti. By our reverence and service we should win their hearts and secure from them the knowledge and culture that ennoble our life. Mother and father are the foremost gurus. Scriptures command us to worship them first."[9]
Quote sources:
"Dhoondh" (Fog).
Dhoondh of my heritage swirling pink like trails of cream in Kashmiri chai. The threads of its puffs spun from history's loom and dusted pink by the earthen walls of Lahore's Red Fortress. This dhoondh in the air and in my heart of this land and of my bonesmy grandmother wraps its fringes around hera shawl to write her poetry in. Like steam, It softens the script of her writing which flowers languidly like the intricate mehndi that spiders a bride's hands, My grandmother breathes the aged dhoondh, she fills her lungs with memories of the Moghuls of wars for independence. I sit at the window in the evening, the pink dhoodh laced with white
(1) www.jainworld.com/society/jainevents/ statistics.htm [2] U.S. Census Bureau; www.census.gov; 22:34 EDT May 19, 2000. [3] India Census Bureau; www.censusindia.net/cendat/
datatable23.html [4) "identity." Merriam-Webster, Incorporated, 1999.
http://search.eb.com/cgi-bin/
dictionary?va identity (5) "Immigrants Shunning Idea of Assimilation." William Branigin.
Www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/ longterm/meltingpot/ meltingpot.htm
Monday, May 25, 1998. (6) "Dhoondh." Inkstone. Fatima Ahmed.
http://scs.student. Virginia.EDU/
inkstone/main.htm Spring 1999. [7] "Re: Writting Jain as last name." Rajib Doogar.
www.dd-b.net/-raphael/jain-list/
msg02911.html [8] "Re: Writting Jain as last name." Yashwant Malaiya.
www.dd-b.net/-raphael/jain-list
/msg02913.html [9] Munisri Nyayavijayaji. Jaina Philosophy and Religion. Motilal Banarsidass, Delhi: 1998.
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